Early Childhood learning is noisy, active, and surprising. Our curriculum for these critical years provides the whole child with hands-on experience, exploration, fun, and adventure. WES challenges students to embrace academic rigor in an appropriately balanced and supportive environment. WES’s extraordinary teachers work each day to create an atmosphere of high, positive expectations, goodwill, and an appreciation for discovery and learning. They not only teach, but also coach, sponsor, chaperon, and counsel.
Faculty members and directors meet regularly to incorporate best practices and share innovations, and they are supported by the WES Professional Development Program, ensuring that each teacher has access to the academic and technological training and tools they need.
Here, supported by faculty and staff, children stand out without burning out. Students challenge themselves academically, physically, and spiritually, and broaden their world view. Life at WES is a constant adventure.
"I love the field trips and plays at WES."
— Kindergarten student responses to the question, "Why do you love WES?"
"My teachers and friends are the best. Everyone is friendly."
— Kindergarten student responses to the question, "Why do you love WES?"
"I love my friends and, believe it or not, I love phonics at WES!"
— Kindergarten student responses to the question, "Why do you love WES?"
"WES is fun."
— Kindergarten student responses to the question, "Why do you love WES?"
The primary purpose of the Nursery program is to nurture children as they learn to function independently within a classroom setting. The importance of play is the highlight of the program.
The environment is prepared for children to explore and manipulate through learning materials, media, and equipment. Play experiences encourage problem-solving and the development of attention span and organizational skills.
The days are bursting with art, music, movement, science, and math. Kids plunge into language arts, religion, library, and more. Friendship building is also a key component of development and is supported and advanced throughout the year.
Please note that Nursery applicants must be age 3 by September 1 and toilet trained to attend WES. The Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten programs start at 8:30 a.m. but students may be dropped off as early as 7:45 a.m.
Oral Language is practiced by speaking in circle time; participating in show and tell; singing songs and listening to stories, poems, and music; auditory discrimination and memory activities; naming objects, colors, days of the week, and seasons; describing pictures and events; retelling stories; finding likenesses and differences; and identifying rhyming words, building vocabulary, and matching names and sounds of letters.
Students begin their study of written language by learning the alphabet; recognizing and spelling their first name; participating in language-experience activities and visual discrimination games. Handwriting skills are built by grasping paintbrushes, markers, crayons, and then pencils and introducing letters of the first name.
Children use objects such as blocks, pegs, various counters, and the calendar to learn the meaning of numbers and addition and subtraction concepts. They learn patterns through grouping and sorting by size and length, matching and ordering objects, and color patterns. Students learn to measure by experimenting during cooking projects and finding the length, height, and weight of various objects. Problem-solving is emphasized through work on individual and large-group puzzles.
Nursery students explore theme-based units with a focus on personal safety, fire prevention, holidays, community helpers, famous American people, self, and family.
Fundamental skills of art-making are introduced, including exploration of color, shape, and texture. Projects may include the following:
Children are introduced to the study of music through singing games, echoing sounds, body percussion, and choral participation. Basic musical concepts of rhythm and volume are explored through guided listening and songs. Students dance, skip, run, and express themselves creatively.
Students develop a variety of basic movement and manipulative skills so they will experience success and feel comfortable during current and future physical activity pursuits. PE increases kinesthetic awareness and promotes problem-solving and movement creativity while using a variety of manipulatives in many situations.
Students explore science both in the classroom and the Early Childhood science center. Units of exploration include the study of weather, plants, animals, the earth, human growth, wellness, light, and color.
Students engage in interactive storytime related to the monthly theme and use a flannel board to retell and expand stories. Students are encouraged to check out books to bring home.
Students hear simple stories drawn from the Bible about God’s love for creation and humanity, and they are introduced to some major biblical characters. Students also learn virtues that are emphasized each month.
From greeting each other in the morning to speaking confidently on stage, our Early Childhood students speak and perform publicly throughout the year including:
The Pre-K class is designed to further develop the child’s ability to solve meaningful problems individually as well as within groups. A variety of materials and plenty of time are provided for children to explore and learn about their environment. An abundance of meaningful experiences develop basic skills in language and literacy. Foreign language instruction in either French or Spanish is introduced in this year; parents select the language of choice.
The development of fine motor skills continues to be encouraged through the use of a variety of writing tools. The children’s social skills are also maturing as they become much more aware of people relevant to their everyday life and the world at large. The following activities, experiences, and interactions are designed to encourage students to make choices that will foster confidence, initiative, and autonomy. Pre-K is for students who are 4 years old.
Students build oral language skills by listening to stories and poems; practicing auditory discrimination and memory activities; recognizing rhyming sounds and words; following directions; participating in show-and-tell and group discussion; naming objects; naming colors; identifying opposites; answering questions; describing pictures; creating stories; retelling stories; finding likenesses and differences; stating the main idea of a story; drawing conclusions from a story; and matching names and sounds of letters. They practice written language by recognizing and writing the alphabet and commonly used words; enjoying language experience and visual-discrimination activities; and using Handwriting Without Tears® curriculum.
Students develop a variety of basic movement and manipulative skills so they will experience success and feel comfortable during current and future physical activity pursuits. PE increases kinesthetic awareness and promotes problem-solving and movement creativity while using a variety of manipulatives in many situations.
Fundamental skills of art-making are introduced, including exploration of color, shape, and texture. Projects may include the following:
Languages are taught using an immersion method where the children hear almost exclusively French or Spanish during class time. They are encouraged to respond in French or Spanish as much as possible. The emphasis is on learning while having fun by means of songs, rhymes, games, puppets, and stories.
Children are introduced to the study of music through singing games, echoing sounds, body percussion, and choral participation. Basic musical concepts of rhythm and volume are explored through guided listening and songs. Students use basic percussion instruments to enhance stories and songs. Students skip, run, and express themselves creatively. They learn aerobic dance and basic choreography.
Students explore science units both in the classroom and the two science labs. Units of exploration include the following: five senses, seasons/weather, human growth, animals, nutrition, plants, sea life, insects, sinking and floating, ecology, caring for the environment, balancing and weight, magnets, electricity, and the rock cycle.
Students explore theme-based units with a focus on the following: family/self/manners/rules; people & cultures; fire prevention; holidays; and community helpers. Every month, the dramatic play center is redesigned to reflect the current theme.
Pre-K students hear simple stories drawn from the Bible about God’s love for creation and humanity, and they are introduced to some major biblical characters. Students also learn virtues that are emphasized each month.
Students visit the library once a week for an interactive storytime. Selected stories and books reinforce and enhance the monthly theme. Finger puppets animate discussions of selected books. Students learn appropriate library behavior and check out one book a week to take home.
From greeting each other in the morning to speaking confidently on stage, our Early Childhood students speak and perform publicly throughout the year including:
Kindergarten is an exciting year, marked by further development of students’ social and cognitive skills. At a more accelerated pace, the children continue to experiment with verbal sounds and use language to solve problems. An understanding of basic mathematical concepts is developed to aid in everyday life. Kindergarten is for students who are 5 years old.
Students engage daily in a balanced literacy approach that includes opportunities for read-alouds, shared reading, phonics and word studies, interactive writing, and small group instruction (guided reading opportunities). The Heggerty Program is used as a primary resource for word studies in phonemic awareness. Reading Horizons focuses on phonics, high-frequency words, and spelling. A Reading and Writing Workshop approach is used to build upon a child’s independence in reading and writing, and to provide a greater depth into reading comprehension and meaningful writing. The Handwriting without Tears Program is used to promote the correct formation of letters and penmanship.
Classes use the Bridges in Mathematics Program, designed to develop a deep understanding of math concepts while working toward proficiency in key skills. The program helps students build more flexible and efficient ways to solve problems through a variety of tasks.
Kindergarten students explore theme-based units with a focus on the following: self, home, safety, school, community, Arctic/Antarctic life, holidays, seasons, and famous Americans.
Our curriculum emphasizes the benefits of personal fitness, laying the foundation for lifelong wellness. Team play, cooperation, respect for others, safety, and enjoyment are stressed.
Fundamental skills of art-making are further developed, including exploration of color, form, and perspective. Projects may include the following:
Languages are taught using an immersion method where the children hear almost exclusively French or Spanish during class time. They are encouraged to respond in French or Spanish as much as possible. The emphasis is on learning while having fun by means of songs, rhymes, games, puppets, and stories.
Children develop their knowledge of music through singing games, echoing sounds, body percussion, and choral participation. Basic musical concepts of rhythm and volume are explored through guided listening and songs. Students dance, skip, run, and express themselves creatively.
Students engage weekly in hands-on activities that integrate science, technology, engineering, and math. These activities promote problem-solving, reasoning, and critical thinking. Through discussions, observations, exploration, and creation students explore STEM-based subject matters while developing and practicing 21stcentury skills. Projects encourage students to take risks, preserve, adapt, and create.
Students hear simple stories drawn from the Bible about God’s love for creation and humanity, and they are introduced to some major biblical characters. Students also learn virtues that are emphasized each month.
Students learn about the art of picture book illustration and compare the styles of many revered picture book illustrators. Students are also introduced to information books and folklore. They may check out one book a week to take home.
From greeting each other in the morning to speaking confidently on stage, our Early Childhood students speak and perform publicly throughout the year including:
Students engage daily in a balanced literacy approach that includes opportunities for read-alouds, shared reading, phonics and word studies, interactive writing, and small group instruction (guided reading opportunities).
The Heggerty and Reading Horizons programs are used as primary resources for word studies including phonemic awareness, phonics, high frequency words, and spelling. A Reading and Writing Workshop approach is used to build upon a child’s independence in reading and writing, and to provide a greater depth into reading comprehension and meaningful writing. The Handwriting without Tears Program is used to promote the correct formation of letters and penmanship.
Using the Bridges in Mathematics program, students develop strategies for addition and subtraction within 20, including story problems; build fluency with addition and subtraction facts; work with whole number relationships and place value; build an understanding of linear measurement and measuring lengths; learn to compose and decompose geometric shapes; discuss fractions.
In social studies, students explore the world around them starting with their neighborhood and community. Their study culminates in the spring with a unit on Japan. Map-reading skills are also an important part of the curriculum.
The curriculum emphasizes the benefits of personal fitness, laying the foundation for lifelong wellness. Team play, cooperation, respect for others, safety, and enjoyment are stressed.
Lessons about line, shape, and color are integrated with social studies themes. Students also study individual artists and styles. Projects may include the following:
Through dialogues, stories, songs, and audio-visual aids, students learn vocabulary associated with family, school, clothing, common foods, and numbers. They understand basic greetings and question patterns.
Students have many diverse opportunities to develop musical skills. Some concepts covered in class include tempo; singing on pitch with expression; introduction to rhythm reading; identification of instrument families visually and aurally; and recognition of stylistic characteristics and simple forms through listening. Students also explore creative ways to move to music.
Students engage weekly in hands-on activities that integrate science, technology, engineering, and math. These activities promote problem-solving, reasoning, and critical thinking. Through discussions, observations, exploration, and creation students explore science-based subject matters while developing and practicing 21st-century skills. Projects encourage students to take risks, persevere, adapt, and create.
Students learn about the Bible, and they become more familiar with particular stories and major characters in the biblical narrative. In addition, they are introduced to the liturgical seasons of the Christian calendar and major holidays from other world religions. Activities related to the monthly virtues are also included. Students also take a leadership role in the weekly Early Childhood Chapel.
Students engage in interactive story-time related to the core curriculum and are introduced to biographical and informational books. They learn how to best use a library and care for books and are encouraged to check out books to bring home.
From greeting each other in the morning to speaking confidently on stage, our Early Childhood students speak and perform publicly throughout the year including:
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